A Hero's Pride Read online

  “Jesus.” He groaned and thrust into her hand.

  Their gazes met and held. All pretense of waiting was gone. “Condom. Get one.” She panted.

  He pulled one out of his pocket, and she tore it from his grasp.

  “Let me.” Her hands shook when she rolled the thin latex down his cock. He hissed out a breath grabbed her by the shoulders, pushing her gently onto her back on the bed. She lay there in her flesh-toned bikini panties and nothing else. He shrugged off his shirt and bent to remove his shoes. Moments later he joined her on the massive bed. A flicker of anxiety flashed in his eyes, and she knew she needed to do something to keep the momentum going.

  Chapter Four

  “Please, Ryan. I need you.” It was no lie. Her body burned with urgency. She fingered her pussy over the wet material of her lacy panties.

  His nostrils flared. His gaze zoomed in on her hand while she rubbed her clit. The heat of his body caressed the inside of her thighs as he moved between her legs. Breathing heavily, she watched him yank down her underwear. Cool air kissed her heated core, and she shuddered.

  Within a heartbeat his lips were on her, kissing and licking around her pussy. She moaned and gripped his hair in her hands, holding him close to her. Need and arousal blindsided her. Needy whimpers rushed past her lips as tension escalated and gathered into a tight knot inside her.

  “Oh god.” She moaned and rocked her hips closer to his lips.

  A slow fire raged inside her, growing with each lick. Every swipe on her flesh a new spark point ready to trigger her orgasm. His grip on her thighs tightened to keep her from squeezing his head.

  “Ryan…”

  Twirls, licks, and sucks drove her so far past the edge she knew she’d fall at any moment. Her hips bucked, rocking harder and faster on him. She choked on each breath, her climax so close she reached for it. That’s when Ryan sucked on her clit. Hard. The tension inside her unraveled, and her world exploded into colorful shards of bliss. A tide of pleasure rushed her. She screamed and let herself go.

  Still panting and quivering from her release, she stared at Ryan as he crawled up her body. He gripped his cock and rubbed it over her pussy entrance.

  “Oh my,” she moaned.

  “You like that?” He grinned wickedly.

  “Yessss.”

  He chuckled. “Want more?”

  She frowned, noticing he wasn’t moving to enter her. “Yes!”

  He lowered until he held himself, skin to skin, over her. When he rocked his hips, his cock slipped and slid between her pussy lips, over her entrance, but no further. “Then say something to me in Spanish.”

  What? She groaned. Fierce need blazed through her. “Ryan, I don’t think this is the time for a Spanish lesson.”

  “Tell me something in Spanish, and I will fuck you until you come so hard you won’t know what hit you.” His words made her entire body shudder and throb.

  What the heck could she say? What did it matter? It’s not like he’d understand. The truth? No man had ever made her feel half of what he had in the hours they’d been together. “Por favor, besame. Te necesito.” She dragged his head down and kissed him.

  “What did you say?”

  “Kiss me, please. I need you,” she translated. He slid into her then. His cock stretched her with a delicious friction that hurtled her to the pleasure’s edge all over again.

  Each thrust brought her closer to the peak. Over and over he slammed into her.

  “Oh, Dios!”

  “Tell me, princess, do you like that?”

  “Si! me encanta.” It took her a moment to realize she was urging him on in Spanish. She’d lost all train of thought. His movements increased in pace and demand. With each hard thrust his cock lit scorching embers inside her, pushing her to climax.

  “Dios mio!” She whimpered and dug her nails into his slick shoulders. Her orgasm tore through her with the velocity of a freight train. He groaned into her neck and shuddered as he found his own release.

  Ryan returned from the bathroom to find Kayla standing by the open balcony door. She wore a royal blue silk robe. She’d made him feel so…normal. When he’d removed his pants, he’d felt incredibly vulnerable, expecting…what? Some kind of derisive or pitying comment from her. Instead she’d looked at him and told him she wanted him. He wanted—no, he needed to know more about what made such a beautiful, intelligent, and warm woman want a blind date. How was it possible she wasn’t beating men off with a stick? Why did she agree to do it?

  Slipping into his boxers, he joined her out on the balcony. For a moment he just stood behind her, his hands automatically wrapped around her waist. When she leaned into his touch, warmth he’d never experienced spread through him.

  “Why are you here tonight, Kayla?”

  She sighed, held his hands at her waist, and continued to stare out at the ocean. It was a long moment later when she finally answered. Cool, salty ocean breeze surrounded them. He felt a sudden urge to stay in the hotel with her for a few more days, get better acquainted, and see what developed.

  “I needed a clean slate.” Her soft voice burrowed into him.

  “What do you mean?”

  She shifted in his arms, turned her back toward the balcony, and faced him. “I have horrible luck in love,” she admitted with a sad smile. “I’m thirty years old as of…” She glimpsed into the suite at the antique wall clock by the bed. “…exactly twenty-four hrs ago. I was in a dead-end marriage that lasted all of two months. That’s how long it took my husband to realize I wouldn’t be changing to fit his needs. After that it’s been one bad relationship after another. And I won’t even go into the endless bad dates. So I decided to start my new age with a clean slate. Tonight I was going to have the first of what’s supposed to be many good things. The best first date I’ve had in…well, ever.” She peered up at him, her eyes locked on his mouth. “I wanted a good experience to start my life fresh. No more frogs.”

  His gut churned at the sadness that took over her face. “What time do you have to go?” Don’t go was what he really wanted to say.

  “I have a helicopter ride in a few hours to my parents’ home. Technically, I’m on vacation.”

  Intense need made him pull her into his arms and hold her. Did she really have to go? He thought of asking her to stay, but didn’t want to ruin the mood. He really wanted to see where they could go with this. They both lived in the same city, and it wouldn’t be hard to find the time to see her again. Hell, right now he was home all day or at physical therapy. There was definitely time. He’d give her a little while before he brought up seeing each other again. He didn’t want to sound too desperate.

  Severe pain radiated from where his muscle met the prosthetic and up his leg. Furious over the intense ache that tried to rob him of his time with her, he clenched his jaw and tried to ignore the discomfort. He hated how much he depended on the stupid contraption below his knee.

  “Are you okay?” She frowned, stepped back, and caressed his arm.

  He’d swear the small touch helped the pain diminish.

  “Yeah,” he lied and tried to put his weight on his left leg. The shift only made him wince.

  “Sit down,” she said. It was an order. Her brows were lifted as though she was waiting for him to argue. “Better yet, tell me what helps with the pain.”

  Gritting his teeth until he thought they’d snap kept him from cursing at the agony.

  “A warm soak has been the only thing so far. Aside from painkillers, which I can’t take since I had champagne.” He sat on the comfortable, cushioned chair and took the weight off his leg.

  Before he got a chance to say any more, she disappeared into the room. After a few minutes she returned.

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?” He really didn’t want to get up, but he wasn’t a fucking sissy either. Stars swam in front of him with each agonizing step. If he passed out he’d never be able to look at her again.

  “To
the Jacuzzi,” she grinned and helped him walk. “What’s the point of being in such a luxurious hotel without using all the amenities? Come on.”

  He laughed at her excitement. “So that’s what we’re supposed do in these posh hotels, huh?”

  “Heck yes. I love Jacuzzis. I love eating more, but hot tubs rank a high second. At least letting the giant Jacuzzi massage you until you turn into jelly should make it worth it since we already had the awesome food.”

  He cursed the pain and the injustice of it making its presence known when he was having such a great time.

  “I feel I should warn you,” she added as she helped him walk slowly. “If at any point my attitude seems a bit childish, it’s because I work with twelve-year old girls.”

  He laughed again. “You want to blame your actions on twelve-year-old girls?”

  She nodded. “Yes. At least this one time. I’ll think of other excuses in the future.”

  Her mention of the future loosened some of the tension inside him. He definitely wanted to spend more time with her. As they reached the bathroom he wondered if he could convince her to join him in the water. Not even the pain in his leg stopped him from getting rock hard at the thought of having her in the Jacuzzi.

  Gurgles and pops sounded from the tub, along with the usual humming that went along with the massaging jets. She was right. It did look like a pool. The damn thing was huge. Soft steam floated over the bubbles. Pain, raw and piercing, shot up his leg. He shifted and caught Kayla watching him with a frown.

  “Take it off and get in the water already.”

  Fuck. He didn’t want to feel like a damn wuss, but he did. Her attention was stuck on his leg. When he didn’t move fast enough she glanced up at him with raised brows.

  “Do you need help?” The blue robe opened, revealing the tanned skin, curvy body, and full breasts he wanted to suck again. She dropped the robe on a nearby chair.

  “No…” His voice trailed off, and he watched her sexy ass wiggle as she made her way into the steaming water.

  Chapter Five

  He slowly dropped his boxers and sat on the edge of the Jacuzzi. His chest felt tight, and he had a hard time getting air into his lungs. He removed the prosthetic, and with it his sense of security. What if she was repulsed? Emotion clogged his throat. He swallowed and glanced up. She was watching his face. The worry in her eyes loosened the vice gripping his lungs.

  “You really need to get your ass in this water already. It’ll feel great on your leg muscles.”

  There was no disgust or sympathy. Her concern seemed centered on his pain, and it eased him.

  Once he removed the prosthetic, he slid down onto a seat in the water. There was no holding back his groan as the warm water surrounded the painful leg. She observed from the seat across.

  He held out a hand, wanting her closer. One swift move and she sat in the open space between his legs. She leaned back into his chest and lay there, running her hand up and down his tortured muscles. He dropped his head back on the curved edge, the water reaching above his shoulders, and shut his eyes for a moment. Warmth, from the water and her soft touches, soothed the pain.

  Long moments later the ache from his leg had eased enough for him to move without wincing. Never had he been comfortable enough to do something like that with any woman. She’d sat there quietly and let him be. Her presence alone, in his arms, had allowed him to feel whole.

  She wiggled in his grasp, and his cock immediately hardened concrete stiff at her back. His hands strayed up her stomach and filled with her full breasts, squeezing and kneading the soft mounds. He was pleased when she moaned and arched her back into his touch.

  “Mmm.”

  Her moans grew in volume. Raw hunger consumed every cell in his body. He kissed the back of her neck, licked around her shoulder bend, and plucked and squeezed at her nipples with his fingers. Her breath hitched, and she dug her nails into his thighs. She twisted in his grasp and stood. He watched the water drops slide down her body, clinging to her nipples and calling to him. As she stood there, he saw the lust and need in her gaze. He wanted inside her. Now. She licked her lips and motioned for him to lift up onto the upper flat surface of the Jacuzzi.

  Slick ceramic met his ass when he hauled himself up out of the water. She knelt on the seat between his legs and immediately lowered her head to lick on his cock. Blissful groans slid past his lips while he watched her. Kayla’s small hand gripped the base of his stiff shaft. Her pink tongue licked up his throbbing length until she reached the pulsing crown. Beads of moisture gathered at the head of his dick. She glanced up and sucked him into her lips.

  “Holy—” He jerked in her grasp, hot suction enveloping him.

  She bobbed her head over his cock and sucked like he was a tasty piece of candy. The jerk-suck-jerk made his entire body shake. Needy moans ripped from his dry throat. He thrust into her lips repeatedly, the sexy sight of his cock sliding deep into her hot mouth more than he could bear.

  “Fuck yes!” He pushed away the dark tendrils escaping the knot at the top of her head and covering his view.

  Sparks of electricity shot up his spine. His balls drew tight, readying to come. Her soft humming on his shaft only urged him closer to orgasm. Eyeing the condoms she must have put by the edge of the Jacuzzi, he ripped one open and tugged her away from his ready-to-burst cock.

  Once sheathed, he helped her up out of the water. She straddled his hips and pushed him back. There was a wide clear space behind him.

  “You can lay all the way back.” She grinned.

  He glanced over his shoulder and saw folded towels near his head. Grabbing one for a pillow, he lay on the cool, wet surface. Then he watched her grip his cock and slowly slide down, his cock gliding into her. Head lolled back, she closed her eyes, moaned, and arched her spine.

  Kayla wiggled. The sensation of being filled was such a good one she didn’t want to move. For all of two seconds. Then she lifted until only the head of his cock remained inside and slammed back down.

  “Oh god,” she moaned.

  His grip on her hips tightened. With deft moves he lifted and dropped her over his cock. She leaned forward, braced her hands on his chest, and rolled her hips over him.

  “That’s it, baby. Ride me,” he urged. His groan sent pricks of desperation straight to her pussy. Her nipples ached, and her pussy fluttered with each slide, his thick shaft caressing every nerve ending.

  Raw tension wound like a rubber band inside her. So close. She was so damn close she revved her speed into a full, wild gallop. All brain function shut down. His nostrils flared, and a vein throbbed at the side of his cheek. His pulse raced under her hands. At the verge of the pleasure cliff, she hitched a breath. Her entire body went rigid.

  She dug her nails into his chest. He continued to guide her rocking motions with one hand while he flicked a thumb over her clit. Tension snapped inside her, shoving her over the edge of the pleasure cliff. His name, part sob/part scream, tore from her throat. Aftershocks of pure bliss made her body shudder. Seconds later he tensed below her and ground his cock deep inside her one final time.

  Boneless, she lay over him, their slick bodies covered in perspiration. She tried to regulate her breathing. She was content, and for some reason knowing she was leaving soon made her happiness dwindle.

  “You’re amazing,” he said softly.

  She smiled, puffing for air. “You’re pretty incredible yourself.”

  “I can’t believe tonight worked out so perfectly. I guess I am ready to move on and date after all.”

  She frowned. Was he already thinking of seeing other women right after they’d had sex? “I guess you are. Your family will be happy.”

  “You have no idea. I bet they’ll try to set me up on a bunch of dates again.” He chuckled. “But I think I’ll set up my own dates from now on.”

  His words had been like a slap in the face. Her plans had been to leave in the morning, but with her instant attachment to Ryan, she tho
ught it best to leave sooner. In fact, it sounded to her like he was ready to go take on the dating world by storm.

  Kayla bit her lip and thought about asking if they could continue seeing each other. In the end, she decided she’d just look needy and desperate. She wasn’t normally this insecure, but he’d not only rocked her world with amazing sex, he’d also made her feel for him. He was a nice guy. She could tell. She wanted to show him that just because he lost his leg it didn’t make him less of a man. He was a guy that she could see herself wanting to see on a long-term basis, but only god knew what he wanted. Her stomach clenched with each soft caress of his hand up and down her back. This was it. She couldn’t stay there until morning or she might do something stupid.

  While he was in the shower, she arranged for the helicopter to pick her up earlier than scheduled. He finished showering and joined her in the bed. This situation was much harder than she’d imagined. She hadn’t thought she’d like him this much. It was a while before the hands holding her slackened and his breathing deepened. He’d fallen asleep.

  Snuggling into him, she dreamed of starting something longer, enduring and committed with Ryan. If only. A sad sigh escaped her. Careful not to wake him, she slipped out from between the covers and his arms. Then she stood there like a fool and watched him sleep. Strands of his sexy blond hair fell across his forehead, and a delicious five-o’clock shadow covered his jaw. Her pussy throbbed again. No man had ever made her this hot in her life.

  Since she’d arranged her clothes on a sofa while he showered, she was able to dress quietly. Once all was as it should be, she grabbed her sandals and her bag and reached for the bedroom door. One final glance at the man who’d rocked her world for the night and she walked out. Emotions she’d never felt on a first date coursed through her. Loss, sadness, and the urge to go back twisted her stomach in knots. She bit her lip and struggled with the emotions in her chest as she headed toward the lobby. Just like her to get attached to a man she just met. She was going to need her own therapist soon. Stupid woman.